posted on August 16, 2005 07:52:13 AM new
I have 2 glass hurricane lamps from my friend's mom's estate. Taking them home, my car smelled like gas. I think it's kerosene? What can I do with it? Is it better to clean them before selling them or take fotos the way they are and then clean them or just dump out the kerosene and be done with it
posted on August 16, 2005 08:09:42 AM new
DUMP the kerosene. If the postal clerk smells it, you won't be able to mail it.
Last night on A&E??? there was an airline-travelers' show, not sure of the name, reality show. A guy with a small campstove, one burner, had it in his backpack, checked it through. They took his backpack out of the hold and the fuel had leaked all over his clothes so they made that poor camper, just starting his trip, leave his backpack behind.
The airlines won't allow the smell in mail they're carrying.
posted on August 16, 2005 09:07:51 AM new
ok, dumping it is. Now, what about the lamps? Should I take fotos before I dump the stuff out. Take fotos the way they are? What is your opinion?
posted on August 16, 2005 09:11:09 AM new
Now since I have been unpacking my teasures this morning, I've found some 1950's era figurines, a hobnail table lamp with shade, 1960's alcohol decanturs, tools and such. the tools are a tad rusty. I wonder if they will sell. Probably not. I guess I'll just use those
posted on August 16, 2005 09:27:04 AM new
I'd dump the kerosene, clean up the lamps, and THEN take photos. If you want to prove the lamps were fairly old and had been in use, then take a shot of them with kerosene in, before dumping, cleaning, and taking more photos. JMHO.
We have 5 or 6 very old lamps from a mountain cabin that I'll be selling. . . eventually. . . when I get around to it, LOL.
posted on August 16, 2005 10:01:51 AM new
Kerosene is flammable so I don't think you can just 'dump' it, so to speak. We have a drop-off for paint, paint removers, kerosene, etc if we have no use for it. It's probably best that you treat it like any hazardous material.
posted on August 16, 2005 10:58:05 AM new
Guess What? I just got rid of the Kerosene. One of my neighbors took it right out of the lamps. WHEW! Now to clean the lamps. I guess I need to throw away the wicks since they are soaked in kerosene. I'll let then air out outside for a long while before doing so.
Thanks everyone!
[ edited by paloma91 on Aug 16, 2005 11:02 AM ]
posted on August 16, 2005 11:25:52 AM new
That's great, paloma. I had a huge box of paints, etc left over from one of my projects and when my neighbor saw it he took it all off my hands so it saved me a trip to the drop-off place.
posted on August 16, 2005 01:21:13 PM new
Oh OH! I can't get the greasy stinky goopy stuff off from the inside of the lamp. I've tried dish soap=failure, goo gone for bbq's, I thought that would be a little stronger than goo gone. Before I go crazy, does anyone have any tricks on getting this stuff off? It's thick goo. I hope this makes sense
posted on August 16, 2005 02:01:22 PM new
I have a stainless steel saucepan, was boiling water for tea & forgot it & burned the pan. The very shiny inside turned an ugly dull dark gray & even steel wool wouldn't remove it.
Then I tried a powdered cleanser named Zud, never expecting it to work, it cleaned up like new in minutes. Believe me there is nothing like it, works like a miracle.
I bought it at Lowes but you can probably buy it almost awywhere. It's been around a long time & can be used to clean almost anything where super heavy duty is needed.
posted on August 16, 2005 02:09:44 PM new
do you have a dishwasher? try some very hot water and dissolve some dishwasher detergent in it and let it soak. I don't know what's in that stuff but it takes off most anything. Grits even
BTW Walmart powder brand is top rated by consumer reports! Better than my liquid Sunlight or Electrosol. Who would of thunk it?
The only thing higher rated is the two part capsules - at a very high price.
posted on August 16, 2005 02:29:54 PM new
Try ordinary isopropyl alcohol. If you can get the technical grade (99%) it's even better. You will probably have to ask the pharmacist for it, as they normally don't display anything other than the 70% stuff.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 16, 2005 02:43:44 PM new
This might not work for something that gooey, but glass dealers use Efferdent denture cleaner. The bubbles work loose any dirt you can't get to, and leave a great shine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline
posted on August 16, 2005 02:45:13 PM new
Thanks everyone. I'll go try one at a time and see what happens. - - - I can't spell today.
[ edited by paloma91 on Aug 16, 2005 02:46 PM ]
posted on August 16, 2005 03:38:34 PM new
Try really hot soapy watter & let them stand for a couple of hours. The wicks can be saved by the same method.
posted on August 16, 2005 04:43:31 PM new
liquid furniture stripper! works EVERY time for me. sold Hundreds of those old lamps. pour it in turn the lantern till the inside is coated, wait for an hour,,,,,,,wash it out with garden hose water,,,Crystal clear,,,,,
posted on August 16, 2005 05:44:58 PM new
And you won't belieit till you ever need it but, Kerosene is EXPENSIVE!!!!! Long before this GAS price thing.....I mean YIKES price!!
posted on August 16, 2005 11:38:09 PM new
So THAT's the reason my neighbor came running over to drain my lamps. Interesting. Draining my lamps, sounds disgusting. Ok, back to work
Caroline